Rod, Jane and Freddy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rod, Jane and Freddy |
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From left to right: Freddy Marks, Lizzie Webb, Jane Tucker, Timmy Mallett, and Rod Burton
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| Genre | Children's television series |
| Starring | Rod Burton Jane Tucker Freddy Marks |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 120 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 15 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV Network (CITV) |
| Original release | 29 September 1981 – 5 March 1991 |
Rod, Jane and Freddy were a popular singing group on British TV. They appeared in children's shows on the ITV channel. This was mainly during the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s. You might know them from the long-running series Rainbow. They also had their very own 15-minute show. It was called The Rod, Jane and Freddy Show. The group even made guest appearances on other kids' TV shows. One of these was The Sooty Show.
Contents
How the Trio Started
The group didn't always have the same members. At first, it was Rod Burton, Jane Tucker, and Matthew Corbett. They were known as "Rod, Matt and Jane." Matthew left the group in 1976. He wanted to keep hosting The Sooty Show. His dad had retired, and Matthew took over.
After Matthew left, Roger Walker joined. The group then became "Rod, Jane and Roger." Roger later left in 1980 to focus on his acting career. That's when Freddy Marks joined. This created the "Rod, Jane and Freddy" group that most people remember.
Their Amazing Music
Rod, Jane and Freddy were very creative. They worked in children's television for thirty years. During that time, they wrote over 2,500 songs! These songs covered many different topics. They also used lots of music styles. Some songs were funny, while others had deeper meanings.
Overall, they made 10 music albums and 24 videos. They also created short songs for radio commercials. They wrote theme music for TV shows. And they even wrote songs for pantomimes, which are fun stage shows.
The Rod, Jane and Freddy Show
Rod, Jane and Freddy were very popular on Rainbow. Because of this, ITV asked them to create their own show in 1980. The first episode of Rod, Jane and Freddy aired on January 15, 1981.
The group appeared on both their own show and Rainbow until 1989. Then, they left Rainbow. They wanted to focus only on their own series.
What the Show Was Like
Their show usually followed a fun pattern:
- It started with a big song. This song often gave a hint about the show's topic. Topics could be music, pets, or moving house.
- Rod, Jane, and Freddy often sang songs by themselves.
- Sometimes, there was a short funny sketch. But songs were more common.
- They always ended the show with a final song.
- As the credits played, they would sing the first or last song again.
Touring and Awards
Rod, Jane and Freddy also performed live shows. They toured all around the UK until 1996. Their stage shows were similar to their TV show. They were full of songs, dancing, mime, and comedy. In 1996, they won a special award. It was called a Gold Badge Award. It came from The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters.
Videos Released
The trio released several videos. These came out in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
| VHS Title | Release Date | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Rod, Jane and Freddy | 5 October 1987 | Features 5 musical stories from their early shows. |
| Rod, Jane and Freddy's Stories and Rhymes (TV8087) | 5 February 1990 | Features 5 musical stories from their 1987 series. |
| In A Winter Wonderland | 1991 | A special Christmas-themed show. |
| Live on Stage | 1992 | A recording of their live stage show from their 1992 tour. |
| Say No! To Strangers | 1992 | Teaches the important message of saying no to strangers. It uses songs and roleplay. |
What They Do Now
Rod, Jane and Freddy don't appear on TV regularly anymore. However, they still perform in British children's theatre. They also appear in pantomime shows.
In 2007, the trio appeared in a music video. It was for Peter Kay's song I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles). This song was released for Comic Relief.
In June 2008, Rod, Jane and Freddy were on a TV show. It was called 50 Ways To Leave Your TV Lover. They talked about some newspaper stories. These stories claimed they were in a "love triangle." They explained that Rod and Jane were married before. They later divorced. Jane then started a relationship with Freddy after he joined the group. Jane and Freddy eventually got married in May 2016.
Jane Tucker also appeared on The Justin Lee Collins Show. This was on ITV2 on March 19, 2009. She was part of a section called 'A Blast From The Past'. She also danced with Justin at the end of the show.
Images for kids
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From left to right: Freddy Marks, Lizzie Webb, Jane Tucker, Timmy Mallett, and Rod Burton
